SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO UTILIZE SMART COMPONENTS

• US 20160189115A1
• Filed: 12/31/2014
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Cattone, Jeremy Leigh
• Granted Patent: US 10,318,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

Systems and methods to utilize smart components are described. The system receives a maintenance message from a mobile device at a network-based marketplace. The maintenance message includes part log information including a timestamp and characterization information. The characterization information is received by the mobile device from a component in a vehicle that includes a sensor that senses a first part that is assembled into the vehicle and generates the characterization information based on the sense of the sensor. The component communicates the characterization information to the mobile device that, in turn, communicates the maintenance message to network-based marketplace. The system identifies user profile information based on the maintenance message and stores the part log information in the user profile information at the network-based marketplace. The system compares the part log information with part maintenance information and receives a triggering event to initiate an electronic commerce activity.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a receiving module, implemented using one or more processors, configured to receive a maintenance message, over a network, from a mobile device, the maintenance message is received by a network-based marketplace and is associated with a first user, the maintenance message further including part log information including a timestamp and characterization information, the characterization information is received by the mobile device from a component in a vehicle, the component including a sensor that senses a first part that is assembled into the vehicle, the component to generate the characterization information based on a sense of the first part, as sensed by the sensor, and to communicate the characterization information to the mobile device;

a processing module, implemented using one or more processors, configured to identify user profile information, at the network-based marketplace, based on the maintenance message, the user profile information being associated with the first user on the network-based marketplace and the mobile device, the processing module configured to store the part log information in the user profile information at the network-based marketplace, the processing module configured to compare the part log information that corresponds to the first part in the user profile information, at the network based marketplace, with corresponding part maintenance information to generate a service level for the first part; and

a smart component engine, implemented using one or more processors, configured to receive a triggering event, at the network-based marketplace, the triggering event being associated with the first user, the smart component engine configured to process the triggering event responsive to receipt of the triggering event, the smart component engine configured to process the triggering event to initiate an electronic commerce activity based on the service level for the first part.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing module is configured to identify whether a derivative of the part log information, with respect to time, exceeds a threshold.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the threshold is dynamically calculated.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the threshold is predetermined.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the characterization information includes a percentage of wear of the first part and wherein the processing module is configured to identify whether an aggregate of the percentage of wear of the first part is greater than a predetermined threshold.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing module is configured to identify a second part on the vehicle and to register the second part in the user profile information, wherein the second part was manufactured to include a sensor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor on the second part operates to sense an elasticity of the second part, and wherein the second part is an engine belt.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing module is configured to authenticate the second part as authentic part based on original equipment manufacturer tracking information.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the maintenance message includes vehicle identification information that identifies a make and model of the vehicle and wherein the processing of the triggering event includes processing a particular subsystem that is identified based on the first part being identified as requiring a replacement in the vehicle.

10. A method comprising:

receiving a maintenance message, over a network, from a mobile device, the maintenance message being received by a network-based marketplace, the maintenance message being associated with a first user and including part log information including a timestamp and characterization information, the characterization information is received by the mobile device from a component in a vehicle, the component including a sensor that senses a first part that is assembled into the vehicle, the component to generate the characterization information based on a sense of the first part, as sensed by the sensor, and to communicate the characterization information to the mobile device;

identifying user profile information, at the network-based marketplace, based on the maintenance message, the user profile information being associated with the first user on the network-based marketplace and the mobile device;

storing the part log information in the user profile information at the network-based marketplace;

comparing the part log information corresponding to the first part in the user profile information, at the network-based marketplace, with corresponding part maintenance information to generate a service level for the first part;

receiving a triggering event, at the network-based marketplace, the triggering event being associated with the first user; and

processing the triggering event responsive to receiving the triggering event, the processing including initiating an electronic commerce activity based on the service level for the first part.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the comparing the part log information corresponding to the first part in the user profile information with corresponding part maintenance information includes identifying whether a derivative of the part log information, with respect to time, exceeds a threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the threshold is dynamically calculated.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the threshold is predetermined.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the characterization information includes a percentage of wear of the first part and wherein the comparing the part log information corresponding to the first part in the user profile information with corresponding part maintenance information includes identifying whether an aggregate of the percentage of wear of the first part is greater than a predetermined threshold.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising identifying whether a second part is installed on the vehicle, and registering the second part in the user profile information, wherein the second part was manufactured to include a sensor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the sensor of the second part operates to sense an elasticity of the second part and wherein the second part is an engine belt.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising authenticating the second part as an authentic part based on original equipment manufacturer tracking information.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the maintenance message includes vehicle identification information that identifies a make and model of the vehicle and wherein the processing of the triggering event includes processing a particular subsystem that is identified based on the first part being identified as requiring a replacement in the vehicle.

19. A machine-readable hardware storage device having no transitory signals storing a set of instructions that, when executed by a processor of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving a maintenance message, over a network, from a mobile device, the maintenance message being received by a network-based marketplace, the maintenance message being associated with a first user and including part log information including a timestamp and characterization information, the characterization information is received by the mobile device from a component in a vehicle, the component including a sensor that senses a first part that is assembled into the vehicle, the component to generate the characterization information based on a sense of the first part, as sensed by the sensor, and to communicate the characterization information to the mobile device;

identifying user profile information, at the network-based marketplace, based on the maintenance message, the user profile information being associated with the first user on the network-based marketplace and the mobile device;

storing the part log information in the user profile information at the network-based marketplace;

comparing the part log information corresponding to the first part in the user profile information, at the network-based marketplace, with corresponding part maintenance information to generate a service level for the first part;

receiving a triggering event, at the network-based marketplace, the triggering event being associated with the first user; and

processing the triggering event responsive to receiving the triggering event, the processing including initiating an electronic commerce activity based on the service level for the first part.

20. The machine-readable hardware storage device of claim 19, wherein the comparing the part log information corresponding to the first part in the user profile information with corresponding part maintenance information includes identifying